Pet Preparedness Tips: Is Your Pet In Your Emergency Plan?
June marks the start of hurricane and wildfire season across the country, making it important to have an emergency plan for the whole family, including your pets. Does your family have an emergency plan for situations like a house fire or flood evacuation? Have you considered how to take care of your household pets in such scenarios?
In honor of National Pet Preparedness Month, many local officials, the Department of Homeland Security , and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are encouraging people to create an emergency preparedness kit for their pets to ensure complete family readiness during an emergency or disaster.
According to PetSmart Charities, 90% of pet parents surveyed said they wouldn’t leave their home during a disaster if they couldn’t bring their pets with them. Pet parents also said they would give up a spot in a shelter if they couldn’t stay there with their pets.
“Pets are part of the family and, during an emergency, it’s important to plan for their needs, too,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities.
Pet Preparedness Tips
Organizations such as the American Red Cross and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have several tips to help keep your pet safe and healthy, right alongside the rest of your family, during an emergency. PetSmart Charities has also developed a checklist to help prepare for and navigate the process of evacuating a disaster area with your pet.
They suggest keeping updated electronic and printed photos and copies of your pets’ identification tags, medical records, vaccination records, and essential medications in a water and fireproof container. Additionally, store necessary emergency supplies for your pet, such as food and water, first aid supplies, crates, carriers, leashes/harnesses, and sanitation needs like litter boxes and waste bags.
They also said to Identify places and spaces where you can bring your pet, such as pet-friendly hotels, friends or family members’ homes, and local animal shelters or veterinary clinics for temporary housing options. All Red Cross shelters provide planning and placement for pets during an emergency with support from PetSmart Charities.
It’s also important to plan how you will transport your pet during an evacuation and keep necessary tethers and seat belts on hand.
This next tip may require additional effort, but they suggest practicing evacuations with your pet using different routes and methods of transportation.
Lastly, keep a list of emergency, family, and work contacts, and refer to local social media sites for official information from emergency management agencies, such as your local Red Cross.
